BROKEN VISTA
ONE OF the great pleasures of The Spectator's offices in Bloomsbury is the vista southwards down Doughty Street ending in a prospect of green. For here is the garden of Gray's Inn, originally laid out in the early 17th century by Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam. There is here that civilised balance between public and pri- vate space which is a most important aspect of the character of London. Those travell- ing along Theobald's Road have a sudden, unexpected delight as, behind railings, the gardens of Gray's Inn open out, affording prospects of Georgian facades across wide lawns and through tall trees. But not for much longer, it seems, for the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn wishes to erect a new building in these ancient gardens along their northern boundary, so enclosing them. As if to anticipate opposition from The Spectator, a gap is to be left in the middle, axial with Doughty Street, but the general effect will be destroyed. In 1980, the Honourable Society received com- pensation for not developing its unbuilt-on land. The Benchers should think seriously about abandoning these philistine propos- als.
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